Kevin “Mighty” Mitchell has gate-crashed the Ring Magazine top 10 lightweight rankings after his sensational stoppage win over John Murray.
Dagenham ace Mitchell scored an eighth round TKO victory over Murray at the Liverpool Echo Arena on Saturday night, also winning the Vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Intercontinental title in the process.
It was his first fight in 14 months after losing to Michael Katsidis in May last year, but Mitchell produced the performance of his career to record an upset win.
And his achievement could be rewarded by a world title shot.
The brilliance of his triumph has been reflected by prestigious Ring Magazine, who have installed Mitchell at number five in their latest rankings.
Manchester’s Murray, who had previously occupied the number four spot, slipped to number 10.
Above Mitchell are Ring champion and super World Boxing Association (WBA) and WBO belt holder Juan Manual Marquez, WBA champion Brandon Rios, WBC champion Humberto Soto, Robert Guerreo and Katsidis,
“It’s nice to get some recognition for the win,” said Mitchell.
“I’ve had some time to reflect on the victory, and it’s definitely one of the proudest moment of my pro career so far.
“It was nice to repay all the faith that family and promotional team have shown in me.
“I’m going to have a couple of week’s rest, and then I’ll be back in the gym preparing for my next fight.”
Watch Rosado-Bruce replay on GFL
NEW YORK / ATLANTIC CITY (July 18, 2011)—This past Friday night at Ballys in Atlantic City, Jr. Middleweight Gabriel Rosado scored a fifth round stoppage over late replacement Ayi Bruce in a scheduled eight round that headlined a action filled six bout card that was streamed LIVE all over the world.
Fans can still witness this card that was promoted by Peltz Boxing for just $9.99 by clicking:
http://www.gfl.tv/Events/Fight/Boxing/Rosado_vs_Bruce/1092
Rosado showed lighting quick hands and pounded a game Bruce throughout the first three rounds. In round four, Rosado dropped Bruce with a flurry of punches before ending the round by bouncing Bruce around from pillar to post.
There was some confusion in between round’s four and five as after being battered in round four, Bruce and the referee miscommunicated and for a brief moment the referee ruled that Bruce would not continue. But things were quickly restored and the fight continued but for not much longer as Rosado pounded Bruce and the fight was stopped at 2:56 of round four.
Rosado is now 17-5 with ten knockouts.
EDITORS NOTE—Rosado was arrested just hours after the bout after he and some friends allegedly got into an altercation where a police officer was punched in the mouth and Rosado was charged in the incident
In the co-feature, Tony Ferrante shook off a lackluster first three rounds to come back to stop Andre Hemphill in round seven of a scheduled eight round Light Heavyweight bout.
Hemphill had success by landing some good right hands over the first three frames. In an instant he seemed to tire and began to hold. He was deducted a point and eventually stopped in round seven.
Ferrante won his second straight fight and is now 11-2 with six knockouts.
In an entertaining six round fight, Jamaal Davis (12-8-1) and Eberto Medina (5-6-1) fought to a draw.
Decarlo Perez (4-0-1) remained undefeated by winning a four round unanimous decision over Keane Davis (1-3) in a Welterweight bout.
In what may have been the fight of the night, Bryne Green (7-4-1) knocked Tyrone Luckey (4-1) from the ranks of the undefeated by winning a four round unanimous decision in a Lightweight bout
Naim Nelson (2-0) remained undefeated by putting the first loss on Korey Sloane (1-1) via four round unanimous decision in a Jr. Welterweight bout.
GFL now offers full access to over 5,000 fights for the low monthly price of $9.99 subscribe now at www.GFL.tv
Bam on Boxing: Undefeated or Untested? That is the question!
What does an unblemished record mean for a young fighter? Is he a terrific prospect or has he boxed inferior opposition? How can you tell the difference?
In recent years, a fighter with a record of 9-0 or 15-0 has been regarded as “the next best thing” in boxing. When he finally loses his “0” does it change how we look at him? Does it mean he finally was tested and came up short? Many managers carefully choose second-rate opponents.
Middleweight Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., has a record of 43-0, 30K0s. Does that make him a great fighter? No! Chances are more than half those knockouts were gained against inferior opposition. Chavez, Jr., is a huge attraction in Mexico and in California and he has been promoted accordingly. But it does not make him a great fighter, at least not yet. Perhaps one day he will get better, but that remains to be seen.
In other sports, an athlete can have an “off night.” Not in boxing! There is little room for error since it seems that the TV Teon Kennedy networks are looking not for the best fighters but for fighters with the best records.
There are exceptions!
Philadelphia welterweight prospect Danny Garcia is undefeated in 21 fights, but he has proven himself against tough guys like Jorge Romero, Mike Arnaoutis, Nate Campbell and Ashley Theophane.
Bantamweight Teon Kennedy (pictured) is another Philly fighter who has tested himself successfully. Kennedy has faced the late Francisco Rodriguez, Jose Angel Berranza and Jorge Diaz. Kennedy is 17-0-1, 7 K0s and looking to challenge himself again Aug. 13 at Bally’s Atlantic City when he boxes Alejandro Lopez, of Tijuana, Mexico. Lopez is 21-2, 7 K0s. With Kennedy’s resume there is no question that he has been tested; he is skilled enough to stay undefeated thus far.
Another Philly welterweight, Ray Robinson, was introduced in his last fight against Shawn Porter as a former prospect. Why? Because he had lost his previous fight and now was 11-1? The fight against Robinson was Porter’s toughest. Both fighters looked great and had Robinson kept his hands high and tight there’s a chance that Porter would have lost his unbeaten mark instead of now being 18-0.
Why do fans write fighters off after a loss or two? Welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao has lost three fights but it didn’t stop him from becoming the best welterweight of his era.
Look at lightweight Tyrone Luckey, of Middletown, NJ, who risked his precious undefeated record (4-0, 4K0s) last Friday at Bally’s Atlantic City! Luckey boxed Bryne Green, of Vineland, NJ, who was 6-4-1, 3K0s. Green won 38-37 on all three cards because of a questionable knockdown he scored in the first round.
Luckey’s previous four opponents were a combined 6-15-1. Green’s foes were 50-44-12. Luckey’s manager learned more about Luckey in the Green fight than he learned in the four previous fights. If a fighter is truly going somewhere, a loss here and there should not be a roadblock. And you can tell that to the brain surgeons who choose which fights to put on television! I look forward to seeing Luckey develop.
In other boxing news: USBA cruiserweight champ Garrett Wilson, of Philadelphia, PA, is negotiating to box Lateef Kayode, of Hollywood, CA, for the No. 1 slot in the IBF world rankings. Speaking of guys with mediocre records who have real ability, check out Wilson, who is 10-5-1, 4 K0s, but ranked No. 12 in the world by the IBF. Look at the monsters Wilson has fought! Kayode is 17-0, 14 K0s…Philadelphia heavyweight Bryant Jennings (8-0, 4K0s) makes his first appearance in Las Vegas, NV, on Saturday when he faces Theron Johnson (5-5, 1K0) on the Amir Khan-Zab Judah undercard. This six-rounder is a rematch of their first fight Feb. 26 at Bally’s, won by Jennings via six-round decision…An amateur red carpet charity boxing event is set for Friday at the Liberty Boxing venue in Feasterville, PA….
The author is a senior in sport and recreation management at Temple University. She joined Peltz Boxing as an intern. Follow Peltz Boxing on twitter @PeltzBoxing and our intern @bamonboxing